2025
A roller coaster ride of life in New York City all told thru the eyes of Al Gonzales, an NYPD Officer, John McDonagh, a 40 year NYC taxi driver and Brendan Fay, an Irish born and NYC based human rights activist. Stories that are raw and unfiltered and filled with the humor,tragedy and redemption that are part of the fabric of every New Yorker.
2024
WINNER : THE BEST PLAY ON IRISH 1ST FESTIVAL
Boann and the Well of Wisdom
at the
Greek Cultural Center's
Astoria Playhouse
April 25th, 26th & 27th @ 8pm
April 28th @ 3 pm
(with Greek Supertitles)
One Week Only!
Presented as part of Origin Theatre’s 1st Irish Festival, Boann and the Well of Wisdom is a poetic drama based on the myth of Boann, the Irish goddess of poetry who created the River Boyne. The young, spirited Boann and her father, Nechtan, run the White Cow pub atop a forbidden well in Kildare. Boann wants to innovate while Nechtan wants the pub to remain as it is.
“A wondrous web of Irish mythology … Kearns has crafted a tale of beauty and truth …”
– New York Irish Arts
* Equity approved showcase
2023
About the author
A playwright, screenwriter, poet, lyricist, prose writer and actor, I. Kambanellis, born in 1921 on the island of Naxos, was an intellectual who left an indelible imprint on modern Greek culture with his multifaceted work and social engagement until his death in 2011. 2022 was declared as Literary Year of Iakovos Kambanellis by the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports, in honor of his contribution to the Hellenic nation.
Iakovos Kambanellis, the late “patriarch of the modern Greek theater,” has written this hilarious monologue of a fictional Greek writer who tries to convince his friend to write each other’s eulogy to promote themselves as acclaimed writers. Kambanellis' ingenuity and originality reveal dark, high-quality, and timeless humor.
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A Play About Love Ambition and Gatekeeping
This is truly a beautiful play about the complications of dreaming big in a world that wants to keep you down.
Isaac's Eye is a half-fictional account of the early professional career of famous scientist Isaac Newton. The play imagines that certain choices Newton made, especially in his relationships with others and with himself, dramatically affected his (and therefore our) way of seeing the world.
The play features New York-based performers Reagan Tankersley as Isaac Newton, Kasey O’Brien as Catherine Storer, Isto Barton as Robert Hooke, and Jack Dryden as The Dying Man. Dryden will also direct the project with the help of Assistant Director Hannah Adrian and Stage Manager, Annie Sheehy.
It is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatist Play service Collection (Dramatists.com) and the Actors Equity Association.
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This was the debut performance of this original script by
Anastasia Thanasoula &
Theodoros Petropoulos
based on the novel written by Anastasia Thanasoula
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2022 Productions
David Gilna is an award-winning playwright, producer, director & filmmaker based in
His short films "Ya Clown"
& "One For The Ditch" have won awards around the world for his work as a filmmaker and screenwriter.
Gilna brings the listener close to tears then within seconds pivots the listener to laugh out loud.
"For anyone seeking hope or a teary-eyed laugh, "A Bolt From D' Blue" is not to be missed." (Chloe, Broadway World)
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Special Event at the Astoria Playhouse of the Greek Cultural Center: “Off the Meter, On the Record”. John McDonagh is a playwright, cab driver, comic, talk show host and activist. "Off the Meter, On the Record" represents the culmination of a forty-year career of driving a yellow cab while trying to make a difference in the world. Written and performed by John McDonagh, directed by Ciaran O’Reilly, Founder of the Irish Repertory Theatre in NYC.
“From the plight of the NYC homeless to the crazy demands of Upper East Side matrons, McDonagh brings the audience from laughter to tears and back again faster than the apparition of umbrella dealers on a rainy day. Throw in his tales of brushes with the rich and famous, and you have Irish storytelling at its best.” (Irish Repertory Theatre)
Support the Astoria Playhouse, the only off off Broadway theater of its kind, and have a great experience as McDonagh takes you for a ride of your life!!!
REVIEWS
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Το Ελληνικό Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο σε συνεργασία με το The Garrett Theater Co.
Παρουσιάζει το
Οι υπηρέτριες του Ζαν Ζενέ
Στα αγγλικά με ελληνικούς υπέρτιτλους
Το The Maids είναι η ιστορία δύο αδελφών, υπηρετριών που φροντίζουν την περιουσία ενός νεαρού, πλούσιου ζευγαριού. Ενώ η προϊσταμένη τους, η κυρία, λείπει, οι αδελφές βάζουν εναλλάξ τα φορέματά της και κάνουν κουμάντο η μία στην άλλη. Σήμερα, όμως, μπορεί να έχουν κάνει κάτι που θα αλλάξει την πορεία της ζωής τους και θα μετατρέψει τη φαντασία σε πραγματικότητα. Αυτό το 75λεπτο ποιητικό θρίλερ προσφέρει μια θέση από την πρώτη σειρά στη μάχη ανάμεσα στη θεϊκή δύναμη μεταξύ της φαντασίας μας και των περιορισμών της οικονομικής μας κατάστασης. Είναι σίγουρο ότι θα ενθουσιάσει, και θα συναρπάσει σήμερα όσο και όταν πρωτοπαρουσιάστηκε το 1947.
Σκηνοθεσία: Jack Dryden
Cast:
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Hannah Adrian
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Kasey O'Brien
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Isto Barton
The Greek Cultural Center in affiliation with the The Garrett Theater Co.
Presents
The Maids by Jean Genet
In English with Greek Supertitles
The Maids is the story of two sisters, live-in maids, who care for the estate of a young, wealthy couple. While their superior, the Madame, is away, the sisters take turns putting on her dresses and bossing each other around. But today, they may have done something to change the course of their lives and turn fantasy into reality. This 90-minute poetic thriller provides a front-row seat to the battle between the Divine power between our imaginations and the limitations of our economic station. It's as sure to delight, excite, and mystify today as it was when it was first produced in 1947.
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Το «Ποιος ανακάλυψε την Αμερική;» της Χρύσας Σπηλιώτη είναι ένα μικρό αριστούργημα με σχέσεις και χαρακτήρες μελετημένους με ψυχολογική ακρίβεια. Η Λιζα και η Καίτη δυο κορίτσια, μεγαλώνουν μαζί προσπαθόντας ν’ ανακαλύψουν τη ζωή και τα όνειρα τους. Οι ηρωίδες καταφέρνουν μέσα από τις γρήγορες “εικόνες” ν’ αποτυπώσουν την πορεία τους μέσα από τους προβληματισμούς, φιλοδοξίες και ματαιώσεις. Με χιούμορ και ελαφρότητα αντανακλούν μια ολόκληρη κοινωνία και τονίζεται η διαχρονικότητα. Το έργο διαδραματίζεται στη δεκαετία του ’90 αλλά παρακολουθώντας το ανακαλύπτουμε ότι τα πράγματα δεν έχουν αλλάξει. Η ζωή τους από 8 ως 88 χρόνων θα φανεί σαν μια στιγμή…όπως και η ζωή μας.
“Who discovered America” by Chryssa Spilioti is a small masterpiece with characters and relationships very well studied physiologically. Liza and Kate are two girls growing up together trying to discover their life and dreams. Through the “scenes” they able to capture their course of reflection, ambitions and frustrations. With humor and lightness, they reflect a society and timelessness is emphasized. The play takes place in 1990 but watching it we discover that nothing really has change. Their life from 8 to 88 years old will seem like a moment…just like ours.
